Whose presence is thus promised and pledged?

This is from GraceGems.org and is a daily e-mail I receive. I post this one because of the beauty which is in Christ. There was been a few edits from the original b/c of some format errors. The original content has not been changed.

Whose presence is thus promised and pledged?

(Octavius Winslow, Christ is Ever With You!" 1863)

"Lo, I am with you always--even unto the end of the world!" Matthew 28:20

Whose presence is thus promised and pledged?

It is the presence of Christ! The Christ who is God. "Immanuel, God with us!"

The Christ who . . .
made all worlds,
created all beings,
governs all empires,
controls all events!

The Christ who replenishes . . .
earth with beauty,
heaven with glory,
eternity with song!

The Christ before whom angels and archangels, principalities and powers bend, and at whose name every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that He is Lord!

The Christ . . .
whose glory is divine,
whose beauty is peerless,
whose wealth is boundless,
whose love is as infinite as His being!

The Christ who . . .
bore and put away your sins forever,
uplifted and forever removed your curse,
paid all your great debt to Divine justice,
sorrowed for you in the garden,
suffered and expired in your stead on the cross,
rose from the grave, ascended up to heaven, lives and intercedes for you, representing your person and presenting your prayers and praises with ineffable acceptance and delight--to His Father and your Father, to His God and your God.

"Lo, I am with you always! Mark! Behold! I the Incarnate God, I who opened my bleeding heart for your redemption on Calvary, I who am your dearest Friend--I am with you always, in all places, and at all times, unto the end of the world!"

O honored saint of God! You have . . .
the Divinest in the universe to love you,
the Mightiest in the universe to shield you,
the Loveliest in the universe to delight you,
the Dearest in the universe to soothe, cheer, and gladden you!
O favored disciple of Jesus--you have such a one ever at your side!

This is the promise of promises--the richest pearl of all the promises, exceeding in its mightiness and preciousness; while it is the substance, sweetness, and pledge of all the rest!

Commentary of 2 Timothy 3:1-4:13

FINAL UPDATE!!!!!!!! I have finished and now is posted on Google Doc. To read the whole Commentary click on any of the links or here.

UPDATED AGAIN!!!!! I have updated with the second point finished.

UPDATE!!!! I have updated the commentary proper. It has not been proof read. It is over 2 Timothy 3:1-13. I will take a while to download.

If you want to read my commentary as I work on it, you can.

To read the background info, click here.

To read the actually commentary proper, click here.

Send an e-mail that with changes, comments with changes will not be posted.

Please note, that there is some formating errors because it was written in Word and has line that are were not imported and also footnotes that did get imported.

Thanks Management.

1 Corinthians 7

I was reading 1 Corinthians 7 for a my daily Bible reading. I noticed Paul was not advocating the statement about not have sexual relations with a women.

Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: "It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman." But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. (1 Corinthians 7:1-5, ESV)

Verse 1 says, "Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: 'It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.' " Paul received a letter where the people of Corinth must have said something about not having sex, married or unmarried. Paul will refute that statement over the next 4 verses.

I noticed that this because Paul says "but" to start verse 2. But is a contrasting word. What is really saying that it is better for husband and wife to have sex because it will help them to not have sexual sins. Paul starts this off with, "because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband." Corinth would be like Las Vegas today. Sexual sin was a normal everyday event. The main temple was to Aphrodite, the goddess of love. There was lots of temple prostitution in Corinth. It seems that the Church in Corinth said for no one can have sex. So Paul said no, men needs one wife and women need only their husband.

Paul in verse 3 and 4 tells men and women to give to their spouse their conjugal rights. Basically they should fulfill their duties to have sex.  The reason is that they do not control their bodies but the other member does.

Verse 5 then tells us that there can be a small amount of time to have sexual relations with your spouse. That time should be a time of prayer lest the devil temps the members with sexual immorality. It also is based on an agreeable amount of time by both parties, not because one is mad at the other.

It seems to say that married people should have sex when there is a desire to be intimate with each other. The neglecting of this desire can cause one or both members to sin in sexual immorality.  When it is neglected, it should be done for a short period of time and there needs to be an agreement. 

Now, this does not include single people. They are not to engage in sex because it was designed by God for the use in marriage. If they have having problems with lust, they need to get married (1 Cor.7:9).

Only by God's Sovereign Will

This past week has been one that only God could have orchestrated. I went to Capitol Hill Baptist Church (CHBC) in Washington D.C. for the morning service.  I got their at what I though was a good time and I was wrong. The only seats open were in the balcony and behind the pulpit. The service was amazing. There was lots of prayers and the songs were just Christ-centered. They were old hymns but there were some newer songs. The sermon was gospel-centered and the gospel was proclaimed. It was just a big encouragement to seat through.

After the service, the gentlemen seating next to me asked who I was. He saw my face and told me his name was Scott. I then said his full name and then he realized that we have meet before. We did meet the first time I was at CHBC in February. He asked if I had any plans for the day. I told him that my plans were to visit the National Mall and walk around (I thought about witnessing to people also). He invited me to lunch. We had lunch a the Eastern Market, which is only a couple of block from CHBC. We had a delightful time. We encouraged each other as I talked a little about what God had thought me through my deployment, especially James 4:6. We found out that we had lot in common with what we are dealing with in our lives.

After our talk, I would go on to the National Mall and he would meet with a member of CHBC. I would continue to think about the chat and the sermon. I would also attend the night service and be blessed with even more prayer and communion. It was just an amazing day in God's presence.

This happened because of God. CHBC is a larger church and I would have never seen Scott again unless God ordained the meeting, which he did. To God be all the glory.

Praying to God

"If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." John 15:7

A quick study of this passage might help us to understand this as it caught my attention. I have heard that all we need to do is pray about it and God will answer our prayers. This verse seems to says otherwise. Lets begin at the word abide. It is the Greek word menō, it means to remain or abide in reference to a place, a time, or a condition. In this case, it is used in reference of a place. This place is Jesus as describe by the speaker which is Christ. Abide is also used to describe where Jesus' words in us. Again, it is reference to a place by the in and the subject is the Disciples.

Lets go back to the beginning of the verse and talk about the word "if." This verse is an if/then conditional statement. The condition is the abiding in Christ and Christ's words abiding in us. Then part is that he will do what ever we asked.

Let looks at the verse as a whole in context. Jesus has just describe that the Disciples are a branch on the vine and Jesus is that vine. Everyone that is not attached to the vine will parish but those who remain will bear much. Verse 8 also gives us clarification of why God will answer our prayers. God answers our prayers for His glory.

So when Jesus tells His Disciples that He will do anything they ask, it is because they are remaining in His teaching. The Disciples desires are to be the same desires of Jesus. John would later clarify in 1 John 5:14, saying "(a)nd this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us." (emphasis is mine) So our prayers should not be "Jesus, I need an A on this test." Instead, it should be something that He has or ordained according to His plan a purpose. Our prayers should be to help the advancement of the Gospel by praying to God that He will do something to glorify His name and not ours. We need to be reading His words, as written in the Bible, to understand His desires and purpose so that he can rightly pray so that God is glorified by His works.

Where has All the Joy Gone?

That is the question of as of right now. I just do not have joy in my life right now. I have nothing to look forward to as of right now. That and the fact that I have not made any friends. I get that we joke because we like. But what they do not understand that I have not many of those friends that joke b/c they care continue to be friends. What hurts the most is that no of them care. I guess why would they. They have lives to look forward to and all I have is an empty apartment with only me inside of it. I guess it makes it hard when joy is not an emotion that I have come to know. That is one fruit of the Spirit that I lack in, a lot. I can see myself working some job somewhere living there is still no one around.

Not having joy has been a major part in my life. There has been seasons but not having joy has been the most part. I look at today, most people would be happy if they were complimented at doing their job, will not this guy. How can I be complimented on a job that I required to know how to do?

I do not even know where this is going but I am going to end it with that. I guess the bottom line is that I am miserable in my current stage of life.

Who is this amazing spectacle of woe and torture?

This is from a e-mail I get daily called Grace Gems. It features quotes from old died guys whose theology can not change. This quote is by Samuel Davies.

"Christ died for the ungodly!" Romans 5:6

In the cross of Christ--God's hatred to sin is manifested in the most striking light! The evil of sin is exposed in the most dreadful colors! Now it appears, that such is the divine hatred against all sin, that God can by no means forgive sin, without punishment; and that all the infinite benevolence of His nature towards His creatures cannot prevail upon Him to pardon the least sin--without an adequate satisfaction.

Nay, now it appears that when so malignant and abominable a thing is but imputed to His dear Son, His co-equal, His darling, His favorite--that even He could not escape unpunished--but was made a monument of vindictive justice, to all worlds!

What can more strongly expose the evil of sin--than the cross of Christ? Sin is such an intolerably malignant and abominable thing, that even a God of infinite mercy and grace--cannot let the least instance of it pass unpunished!

It was not a small thing that could arm God's justice against the Son of His love. Though He was perfectly innocent in Himself--yet when He was made sin for us--God spared not His own Son--but delivered Him up unto death--the shameful, tormenting, and accursed death of the cross!

Go, you fools, who make a mock at sin! Go and learn its malignity and demerit--at the cross of Jesus!

WHO is it that hangs there writhing in the agonies of death--His hands and feet pierced with nails, His side with a spear, His face bruised with blows, and drenched with tears and blood, His heart melting like wax, His whole frame racked and disjointed; forsaken by His friends, and even by His Father; tempted by devils, and insulted by men? Who is this amazing spectacle of woe and torture? It is Jesus, the eternal Word of God; His Elect, in whom His soul delights; His beloved Son, in whom He is well pleased!

And WHAT has He done? He did no wickedness; He knew no sin--but was holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners. And WHY then, all these dreadful sufferings from heaven, earth, and hell? Why, He only stood in the law-place of sinners; He only received their sin by imputation. And you see what it has brought upon Him! You see how low it has reduced Him! What a horrid evil must that be--which has such tremendous consequences, even upon the Darling of heaven!

Oh! what still more dreadful havoc would SIN have made, if it had been punished upon the sinner himself in his own person! Surely all the various miseries which have been inflicted upon our guilty world in all ages, and even all the punishments of hell--do not so loudly proclaim the terrible desert and malignity of sin--as the cross of Christ!

The infinite malignity of sin, and God's hatred to it, appear nowhere in so striking and dreadful a light--as in the cross of Christ! Let a reasonable creature take but one serious view of that cross, and surely he must ever after tremble at the thought of the least sin!

I Sometimes Wonder if I am Called to be Single

This thought just drop into my head while at work today. I had a guy ask me if I had a girlfriend, obvious answer was no. (I guess the answer is obvious if you know me but my lack of social skills proves very well that answer.) He asked me if I like girls. That the question if I am a homosexual or not. I answered yes but I have not desire at this time for a wife. That had me thinking while chilaxing in the pool here in the waterless beach. I am called to remain single or will I be someone who marries late. In 1 Corinthians 7, Paul gives us his take on the issue. If you desire to be married, then get married but you have not the desire, then remain single as I am single ( a Mike paraphrase). I often think about it would be nice to have a wife but that it is not something I desire. I guess there are times that I feel the desire more, but that is usually when I am around people that seem to be happy with others, i.e. weddings and family gatherings. I am sure that something might happen but that is not my desire but it does get me thinking. If I do not get married, that throws me out of any pastoral leadership roles according to scripture. That might even include leading a college ministry. I am just really confessed about what I need to be working towards or where is God leading me. That is probably sin in my life that I need to mortify. I guess that makes me lean more on God to show me the little but of path that He allows me to see. I actually feel like I need to just repent til the cows come home.

I guess pray is in need for this. I guess prayer to mortify the sin in my life and to seek God's counsel in the Bible. I do know that God wants me to be obedient to His word, and that is where I will start.

This is not how the post was going to go but this is where God lead it.

I'm hot 'cause I deployed, you ain't cause your not!

Just some thoughts as I take some time off from work. I am not allowed to disclose where I am at but it is hot. I am thinking about going to do some swimming today to tan my white legs a little. The base is not all bad. There is a lot of sand and rocks. Most things are open 24/7 so it helps to pass time. I am actually sitting outside of a coffee shop right now. (that brings to the point that I have not had any caffeine while here) Work is okay. I feel a little like an outcast because I just do not care to talk about what others want to talk about. I have no desire to talk about women (as an object) and movies that show softcore porn. There are videos on the intranet that show the disgrace that I have been dealing with myself. I have not watched and actually get discussed.

The actually work is not all bad. I work a couple of jets a night and have a bit of down time. It has not all been a grand I as like but hey I work on airplanes.

Spiritual has been hard. I have been typing a 14pg outline of the Gospel of John. I would like to have more time to read and mediate on the book. I just did not have the time while at Liberty and even less time here in the Middle East. I have a commentary to write on 2 Timothy 3 and 4 that I get all summer to write. I am also going to read some books also during the remaining time. I might try to attend some Bible Study at the Chapel and also start attending Chapel. There is only one service that I am able to attend. It happens to be a Saturday night.

Thanks for reading and take care

"We are Surrounded by so Great a Cloud of Witnesses"

As I was doing my Bible reading today, I read Exodus 27 and Hebrews 12. The title is from Hebrews 12:1. This chapter starts with a therefore. In the proceeding chapter, is the commonly known as the "Faith Chapter" or chapter 11. The writer of Hebrews is making a point about the major characters of the Old Testament. Here is 12:1 & 2.

1Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (ESV)

There is something to be learned from these two verses. These people are the crowd of witnesses. They ran the race of faith and completed it. The writer wants us to learn from these people and what their goal was. That comes in verse 2. They were looking at Jesus. John tells us that both Abraham was glad to see the day of Jesus in John 8:56. I think it would be wise to understand how strong men and women of the faith endured this life to please God because of their love of him. We have plenty of examples in the Bible.

"You were born in utter SIN"

I just got done reading John 9. This chapter is about a blind made that was blind from birth so Jesus could heal him. The title comes from a quote of the Pharisees in verse 34. The whole quote is "You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?" At this point of the passage, the blind man is telling the Pharisees that Jesus has to be from God because no one in history has healed people from being blind. Out of their pride, they made the remark in verse 34.

My Question is how often have we rejected God work to fulfill our idea of God? In response, we say You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?" when we should be praising God for his work.

I AM ALIVE!!!!

In case you were wondering. In the mean time, read my recent blog post at Ambassador Alliance Fellowship.

Prayer Request

I know that I have been as faithful blogging as in the past. Time gets to busy but I do have a prayer request to past along. I was offered a job that will pay $75,000 per year. I just ask for wisdom in making the right decision as I prepare for what I feel God is calling me to do. Thanks Mike.

He has been Saved Twice.

This is part of the Ambassadors Alliance blog of my witnessing encounters.

Before I talk what happen at the mall, here is a quote that my friend George, who taught me to witness, posted on his Facebook page.

To Chicago: The snow that is falling teaches you a valuable lesson. You see, snow is white and covers the ground underneath it when the temperature is right. However, when the sun comes out, or when the temperature rises, it melts away revealing once again the trash and dirt underneath. It is the same with many of you.... You go about covering your sin (or pretending it is not there) by supposing that the snow of your good deeds will cover up all the guilt. The problem is that this is only temporary. On the day of Judgement, God will turn up the temperature and reveal all the dirt and trash of your sin, all your good deeds will melt away, and you will stand exposed for who you really are. Thankfully, Jesus Christ died to give us a permanent covering for our sin by His blood. If you trust in Jesus to save you from your sin and turn away from your life of sin, the blood spilled by Jesus will be like an eternal blizzard that forever removes sin out of sight. He will do this for you sinnner, if you would just stop sinning and trust Him now! This is what God says in the bible to you: "Come now, and let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Isaiah 1:18”

Some of us in the Mid-Atlantic coast region can understand this a little bit. That is actually relevant to the fact that they where projecting 1-3inches of snow here in Lynchburg, VA on Tuesday. I told the Grad. Assistant that I would be going witnessing on Tuesday but he thought I would cancel because of weather so no announcement was made for an invite to witness. I was allowed to e-mail the class and one gentleman responded but because of a last minute homework thing he had to decline.

So it was Ed, aka the other wretch, and I passing out some tracts and share how God can to save sinners because of his goodness. I talked to one gentleman that has been saved twice. I guess he must be receiving a double portion when he gets to heaven. He said that one must go to church and do good works to get to heaven but he has not been doing good works. I witness to him and showed him that good works and going to church helps no one and that one must repent and trust in Christ to be saved and good works would flow from the person because they love God and want to obey him. I also asked him if he read his Bible and he does not read that often. I express that we need to read the Bible to know God and also because he has been doing bad, that God would corrected it through His word. He did catch me off guard when I asked him about what he thought of the encounter. He said that he should be witnessing more because as I was witnessing to him, he saw that are people going to heaven and they need the Gospel.

I would also witness to two fellow Liberty University students; I only know this because I saw them today at school, and they told me that I all have to do is Romans 10:9. They said the verse but I informed them that the word confess only means to say that Jesus is Lord and not confess your sins. I would go through the Gospel and urge them to start witness.

I would also meet another group of Liberty students, I would hand a ticket to Heaven tract to one guy to have him tear it. He did not but I asked them it convert me to Christianity. They said I needed to confess my sins and ask Jesus into my heart. I explained that I was offended that they would call me a sinner since I have never sinned. He would then explain that I was a sinner because I have lied and that was against God’s law. I asked if showing someone that they are a sinner before telling them would be better. They agreed that it would be better since then they would know that they sinned against God and since “through the law comes the knowledge of sin.” (Romans 3:20). It was a shorter time to witness but God was ever faithful by providing people to witness to. I might have talked to Christians and my hope is that they start to witness in the community. I pray that I will be able to teach some of my evangelism class to share their faith with this lost word.

John 4

One of my classes in on the Gospel of John. I have been learn a lot about who John is and also what he is trying to prove with signs that Jesus is Christ so people will believe. My assignment for tomorrow is John 4. I also have to read a commentary called Encountering John by Andreas J. Köstenberger. One thing that cought my attention is the fact that when Jesus tells his disciples that the harvest is ready when they brought him food in v. 31-38. Jesus is telling that the harvest ready to be saved and brought into a relationship with Jesus. John the Baptist did the sewing and now Jesus' Dicipiles need to reap the ready crop. Not only that, Jesus also states that, "Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonder, ... you will never believe." (v. 48 NIV) Köstenberger says that verse is telling that sign will not save people and that it is God alone who bring people to him. I hurt to think that our evangelism has missed this point when we reduced the gospel to say this prayer and you are saved. If a person wants to pray for salvation with me I will allow him, but I encourage them to make sure I am right. This also allows God to save them with out me taking the credit.

It is Febuary and I'm stressed out.

I have successfully stressed myself out once again. I have a speech due in 22 days, a 300 page book due in 25 days, plus all of the other home work I have.

But today is a special day for you because I am going to post a article I posted on Ambassador Alliance. It is a site for street witnessers to get together to share witnessing encounters and also ask questions to get advice on dealing with different groups. It is also for people you have attended the Ambassador Training in LA with Ray Comfort, Kirk Cameron, and other members of Living Waters. It is a weekend in which you street witnessness, open-air preach, stop light preach, and other ways to share the gospel. This article is about my trip to the mall here in Lynchburg, VA. Enjoy.

Today, I went again to the mall. I was to meet one of my classmates. She did not show up but it was my fault for getting info. I might just have to make cards to hand out. Ed, the guy who normally goes with me, could not come because his street is icy and it started to snow again here in Lynchburg, VA after dumping a foot of snow this past weekend. As I was waiting for my classmate and watching for the security, I had get a couple of opportunity to witness to some guys. I figured the best way to have someone found me was to witnesses with some people since that is why I was there. The first person I talked to was Kevin. He did not know at first if he would go to heaven or hell but after asking the question again, he decided he was good enough to go to Heaven. He was joking around a little and laughing so I asked what he knew about hell. He realized that I was serious about him and did not want him to die and go to hell. He had to get to work so I let him go. The next person was Zack, I think, I am bad with names. He accepted Jesus when he was 4 but, what seems like lot Christians I witness to, he could not tell me the Gospel. I went through the good person test and shared the good news that Christ took our punishment so he did do not have to. I asked if he had every repent and trust. His answered surprise me a little, because he said no. I urge him to repent and trust in Christ because you do not know when you will die. After Zack, I saw a group of guys, there was 4 of them. I handed them million dollars and one a ticket to heaven. One actually tore it but it took him a lot of strength. All 4 were going to heaven because they accepted Jesus; I asked them to tell me the Gospel with 3 mins to live. They jokingly said that it is too late to be asking that. I went through the Gospel with them and express that they need to share the law to show the person they are sinners. I ended this conversation telling them that they to repent and trust in Christ. As I was talking these young men, I noticed the security guard walking with a sheriff, so I kinda left so I was not thrown out. I wanted to witness more but without getting in trouble. It was good day to preach the Gospel and I just pray that these people turn to Christ.

Sir, You are not allow to solicit here.

Going to the mall to witness to some people has been a highlight because you just do not know who you run into. When street witnessing in England, you knew they were not Christian, for the most part. I had 2 good conversations today while at the mall. The first was to 3 young men. I used the curve illusion with the ticket to heaven, and some MDB. There were 2 ladies but the left. Two out of the three guys said that will go to Heaven and the other said to Hell because he has been bad. I would take them through the good person test and would watch them seem pretty convicted. They would probably never guess that on a field trip for DECA that they would have been witness to. It was a nice conversation since 2 of they had cross necklaces on. Please pray for them. I do not remember their names but God knows.

The next conversation would get kick out of the mall for soliciting. This man is name Isa, Jesus in Arabic, who was Muslim. He was sure that he would be going to heaven because he has done enough work. I used the law once and now realize that I should have used it again. It might not have mattered since he would never apply the law to himself without having other people involve. His friend was not that great of help even if he claimed to be a Christian. His friend would say that he has a faith so he is good and who am I to judge Isa. I told me that I was not judging but if the Bible is correct, his friend would go to hell because he does not understand Jesus rightly and that he has sinned against God. Isa would also never admit that every deserved Hell because he had sin against a holy God. I did tell him that lying lip are an abomination to the Lord and that all lairs will be thrown into the lake of fire. One mistake that I took away was that I was trying to convince him with knowledge and not always with God’s word. I need to remember that I do not save people, it if God and that God’s word will convict him. Even though it was not a great witness encounter, I learned a little about my tactic. One thing that I thought was interesting was that he would never admit that he was working to Heaven with work-righteousness. He could never say that but that is all that he said.

So reason for the title. I was told this by a security guard from the mall to end the conversation.

2 Days, 2 Blog posts, and something else.

This is a huge event. For the first time in 2010, I will write 2 blog post on back-to-back days. I want to give you want this blogs does not offer much. I have been thinking about what this recent car crash I was involved in has taught me. It has thought me that God is in control. It just happened that I was listen to Wretched Radio and the host Todd Friel has been talking about why part does God have in Haiti. He talks about how know matter what happen, God is still in control and it happened because God allowed or ordained it. This has been what has get me on the straight road with this trial I went/going through right now. I am sorry that I am not the get with Bible verses to help but I went in search because I know that God is faithful. Is I was looking for a verse is Psalm 140-149, I do not remember what Psalm it was in, I remember a what my EVAN 101 special guest said today, from Psalm 55. David starts out in verse 1 saying, " Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy! Attend to me, and answer me; I am restless in my complaint and I moan(.)" (Psalm 55:1-2, ESV) David is talking about enemy is that is drawing near. In verse 4, David talks about that he heart is heavy and how he fears that we will not make. Starting in verse 9, David pleas that God destroys those evil people. Then in verse 16 David says, "But I call to God, and the Lord will save me. Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice. He redeems my soul in safety from the battle that I wage, for many are arrayed against me." (Psalm 55:16-18, ESV) How great is this God that is able to help us when we are low and are trying to understand what is going on. James tells us to rejoice in all trials (James 1:2-3), while Peter tells us that God test our faith to make sure it is genuine (1 Peter 1:6-7). As I finish this post, I just think how much Jesus also suffered here on earth and how much more on the cross. Yet he defeated it all and God received the glory. How much must I submit to his will and give him to glory for what he has done. This car crash has reveled that.

This small trial has reminded me although I may not finish this semester, God is in control and I must submit to his plans. He will not leave me or forsake me and yet even when we get surrounded with problems, he has a plan that helps us and not harm us. O, how great is our God!

Pics from Wreck.

Here some pictures of the cruiser. The front grill is right on the engine and not attached to the bumper as the picture looks.


Here is an little update. One person has gone in for additional medical help for headaches. Please pray for him and a quick recovery. I am currently waiting for my money to buy a 1996 Hinda Accord 4 door. It is weird that every car I have bought has been older then the last. It started with an 06 Chevy Cobalt 2 door coupe. Then it went to the PT, which is an 2002. Now a 1996, I was 10 btw, Honda Accord. I am expecting my next car to be a 1986 Mini, just kidding. I do not know if I will keep the Honda because it is an automatic instead of a manual, which means that the Honda is the first automatic transmission I have owned. I might give an overview of what God did. That will depend on my school work. I have a fully book schedule and now I am trying to get another job for updating some equipment like a new laptop.

4-Car Crash

This is going to be a public announcement of sorts. I was involved in a 4 car crash heading to church. The traffic stop suddenly and being in the proper distance from the car in front of me, I hydroplaned into him because it was raining and the road where wet. A Liberty Student hydroplaned into me shortly after. I was the only one to not drive off. Praise God that no one was hurt. The car in front of me because of my impact hit the car in front of him but very little damage was done. I was formal charged with Reckless driving: failure to maintain proper control as was the lady who was behind me. This charged is given to anyone who rear-ends another car. I have to appear in court but the max fine is $30 plus court fees. The officer told me that the judge could throw it out since it was raining and I was not doing anything wrong. It will also depend on my driving record which has been clear since I was pulled over last, according to my US driving record, in Oklahoma in 2006. My neck hurts from the impact but other than that I am fine. A problem that now arises is the fact that financially, I can not handle buying a car or $500 to fix the PT. Even thought this has happened, I am trying to not get anxious over it. I need to trust in God that it will work out for the good to bring him glory and not myself. As of right now, I am examine myself to see if God might be trying rebuke me for sin or was it an opportunity to witness to someone. All I know now, is that God is still in control and he allowed it to happen so His grace can be on display. In response to this unfortunate crash, I will lay the burdens down at the cross and let God work and let him lead and I will follow like a little child.

Prayers that this will be resolved and everything works out. I am expecting that they will be hiccups to test me. Pray that I will have an unwavering trust in God to handle it. Thanks to all.

Sometimes You Just have to Feel Humbled because of God.

I just got off the phone with a friend. Just before we hung-up he was talking about how he was been thinking of how God is orchestrating this cosmic play. I just think of all the people I know from Utah to England and in between. The fact that God had ordained me to know people and get to know people as I make choices that impact my life. I can honestly say that when I think of all the people that God has placed in my life to help develop into the person I am . The person I was on the phone with is the person that shared to me for the first time the gospel. This was 5 years ago when a mutual friend said we should meet. At the time was not a Christian. It would take the beating down for 1 week in Basic Training to see my need for a savior. Just think about all the people that you know. What makes it more amazing is that we are connected because of God. God has placed people in ours lives and had us established relationships with them. It shows that God is truly bigger than one can imagine. That he knows all and observes all. Then you have Sunday, when all you worship the true God come to give Him the praise. We often wonder why God places in different areas. That was a battle I fought while in England. As much as I enjoyed my first trip back to OKC in Jan. 08, it hurt me in the battle. I see know why God would place me there. I would what grew me the most as a Christian but sharing my faith on the streets, among different world views. The fact that God had place me there and the people I now know and might get to see again, if I ever get married or go on a nationwide road trip.

I think that why I feel humbled is because God has been good to me when I do not deserve it. All that really I am is a sinful human saved by God. The fact that God would save a wretched evil man like myself is beyond my knowing but he did because he loves. How can I ever blame God for not being good show how I really am.

I also want to pass on a great worship CD. It is called Exalted Worship by Scott Krippayne and Kirk Cameron. You can download it from iTunes or buy it from Amazon or WretchedRadio.com. It is a mixture of God honoring and man humbling prayer. The hymns are not your standard man centered worship songs but hymns that teach theology about God. It is some of the best worship I have had from a CD. You can check the lyrics out at WretchedRadio.com.

Waiting for a download so I am writing a blog.

I do not know what I want to say so this is true randomness. I have been thinking, after listening to Paul Washer, that the American Church reduction of the Gospel to this say this prayer is changing the focus from God to man. Paul Washer said something that I never realized but know that there was something wrong with getting people to say the sinners prayer. To clearify, I believe that people need to pray to God because they see that they have offended the true God but I am against having people repeat a prayer and then pronounce them saved. Paul Washer said what I have found in witnessing at the mall, people stake their eternity on a prayer that THEY said and not on the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. This is work righteousness and the more I think about it, the more I think that those people are not saved because they trust is wrongly placed. I did not say the "Sinner's Prayer" so does that mean I am not saved because I said a prayer. What Christ did on the cross will be fathomed but us humans and the fact that we degrade to a point that we have to say this prayer and no mattered what, we are saved. I am all for assurance of salvation but my assurance is in the Christ alone because of the atoning work on the cross. I took some advice from C.J. Mahaney's book A Cross-Centered Life, it is that we should preach the Gospel to ourselves everyday. What is more assuring that a wretched sinner has be saved by God to do God's work here on earth. The more and more I think about my life and how self-centered my life is, the more and more I see my need for Christ and a cross-centered life.

I have also been thinking about how can I celebrate Christmas rightly. When I figure it out, I will post.

Singleness, thoughts on my current status is life.

Before I was a Christian, I hated happy people. The main reason, I was not happy myself. I was asked to usher at my cousin's wedding. I was force to by my parental authority, even if I had a concert about 30 mins away. I really hated weddings since everyone was happy or at least seemed. So today, I attended a wedding with a friend that I have not really got to know. He became good friends with a person as I remember tried to avoid me back in middle school. So in 6th or 7th grade, I was friendless to say the lest. This does not help me at that time. So throughout middle school and high school, I was pretty much a loner. So pretty much throughout most of my life, I have lived in a state of singleness. I remember in college, I would go from room to room looking to be accepted. When I joined the military, I would spend tons of time by myself. It was less in Oklahoma and towards the end it would be better. Then I moved to England. This would be challenge. I would hangout once-in-a-while at a friends dorm room but I would spent days by myself. It was hard to do anything since I was by myself. I would have loved to travel more but it would not have been fun. I remember going to London to watch the New Year Parade. I was so lonely.

So now living in Lynchburg and seeing friends get married. It has taken a toll on me. I still long for that friendship with someone who lives close. I still have this thing about weddings but today I wanted to enjoy it. I wanted to rejoice with those rejoicing. I would look on Boundless, a Focus on the Family for 20 and 30s single people, for an artcile that would cover this issue. I found one and it has help. I read that even if I am not getting married or even have a friend living close that share time, God has blessed me in different ways. It is a comfort (and as I grow I hope it will be a better comfort) to know that God has blessed me with where I am at. I might not be getting married or even have a really close friend, but God has bless me with in different ways. I can go on knowing that even if I long for a relationship I really do not have, God has bless with relationships. It is tursting God that where He has me now is where the right place.

I think the main problem is a little known sin called self-centeredness. I have to admit that I try hard to dress to impress. I try to do the little things that know would ever care, like shiny shoes. I often wonder why people put up with this. Just thinking about it, this might be why I am not married. I am not in a place yet to set myself back and serve others. Remembering a quote by J.R. Miller, he said that a godly man is like dew. Dew always work at night when no one is looking and you see the effects when the dew is done. It is a man ever working for the glory of himself but you can also see their work.

As I shift gears again, I guess that is why I write blogs. I want to that close friend to speak to, unfortunately blogs do not talk back, but I want the subject to be about me. But I look at myself and I force to see that I, who has never dated anyone mind you, am not that great of a person. I see that even talking to a girl I meet through a Bible study, that I am not that Godly man. I was talking to the pastor of the church that a couple of friends attend and he has said something that struck me. It is about the heart. It is clear that because of my self-centeredness, that my heart is in the wrong place. I am focusing on the wrong things. I am focusing on my plans and want I want, not what God wants from me.

I need to leave this but I would like you to pray from me. The one think I guess you can take from this is that I am not that great of a person when it comes down to it. My sins will have me fall further away in despair but there is a God who cares. He cared enough to send a Savior who will take this burden. That is the focus, it is the cross of Christ.